Postdoctoral Researcher: Experimental Fracture Mechanics

Organisation/Company ETH Zürich Research Field Chemistry » Other Engineering » Aerospace engineering Engineering » Civil engineering Engineering » Materials engineering Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Other Physics » Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Country Switzerland Final date to receive applications 11 Feb 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Postdoctoral Researcher:
Experimental Fracture Mechanics

At the Professorship of Solid Mechanics (SMEC) in the Institute for Building Materials at ETH Zurich, we aim to understand how materials deform, degrade, break, and ultimately fail. Our research is driven by curiosity about the physical mechanisms that underlie failure and by the ambition to translate this understanding into more reliable and resilient materials and structures. By combining numerical modeling, laboratory experiments, and theoretical analyses, we seek to link microscopic processes with the macroscopic behavior of both engineering and natural systems and develop predictive tools for mechanical failure.

Our team is highly interdisciplinary and international, bringing together researchers with backgrounds in materials science, mechanics, and applied physics. We work across a broad range of topics, including the mechanics of particle systems (colloidal and granular), architected and topologically interlocked materials, the mechanics of fragility in collagen, the mechanics of earthquakes, fracture of soft materials, and modeling failure in multiphysical processes such as corrosion-driven degradation of concrete.

What unites these efforts is a shared curiosity about why complex materials fail and a commitment to developing new concepts, experiments, and models that advance our understanding of failure mechanics.

To further strengthen and expand our experimental research activities, we are seeking a motivated and creative Postdoctoral Researcher with a strong background in fracture mechanics. The successful candidate will help develop our laboratory capabilities and lead independent research that complements and extends our ongoing efforts to understand the mechanisms and laws governing material failure.

• You will contribute to the experimental and theoretical investigation of fracture processes in complex materials
• The position offers the opportunity to design and conduct advanced experiments and to work closely with researchers who develop analytical and numerical models, integrating these perspectives to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of material failure
• Depending on the candidate’s background and interests, the research may focus on one or more areas such as fracture of soft and architected materials, failure in particle systems, material cutting, or the frictional failure of interfaces
• In addition to carrying out independent research, the Postdoctoral Researcher will actively contribute to the development of the group’s experimental infrastructure, supervise student projects, and collaborate with other researchers within SMEC and across ETH Zurich
• The position provides a stimulating environment for scientific growth and collaboration

Profile

• You have a doctoral degree in mechanics, (civil, mechanical, aerospace, or bio-) engineering, materials science, physics, or a related field, with a strong background in experimental research
• You are experienced in designing and conducting laboratory experiments, developing and using measurement techniques, and analyzing complex mechanical behavior of materials.
• Experience in fracture mechanics or related areas such as solid mechanics, tribology, or soft matter is particularly welcome
• You are curious, creative, and self-motivated, with a strong interest in understanding the physical mechanisms that govern material failure
• You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment and are enthusiastic about collaborating with colleagues who combine experiments, modeling, and theory
  
  Strong communication skills,…